Is it power which is the object
of the spiritual person, or is it inspiration after which he seeks? It
is in fact neither of these things which he pursues, but all such
things as power and inspiration follow him as he proceeds on his path
towards the spiritual goal. The goal of the spiritual person is
self-realization, and his journey is towards the depth of his own
being, his God, his ideal.

Does such a person
sacrifice all interests in life, or does he consider the different
objects that people have in their lives as something leading astray?
Not at all. No doubt his object is the highest that any soul can have,
but all other objects which he sees before himself in life do not
necessarily hinder him on his path; they become as a staircase on his
way, making his path easy to tread. Therefore the person living the
inner life never condemns and does not criticize the objects of
another, however small or ridiculous they may appear, for he knows
that every object in the life of a person is but a stepping-stone,
which leads him forward if he only wishes to go forward.

There is a time in the
life of a soul when it has the desire to play with dolls; there is a
seeking after toys. From the spiritual point of view there is no harm
in that, and man sees in time the way that leads to the goal; these
are only passing interests leading to others, and in this way man goes
forward.

Therefore, according to
the view of the seer, man places before himself at different times
such objects as riches, pleasure, or a material heaven; the spiritual
person starts his journey from the point where these end. The process
of evolution is not a straight way, it is more like a wheel which is
ever turning. So the experience of the person who treads the spiritual
path begins to show a downward tendency, and from that again upwards.
For instance, in the spiritual path a person goes backwards, he
experiences youth again, for spirituality gives health to the mind and
to the body, it being the real life. He experiences vigor, strength,
aspiration, enthusiasm, energy, and a living spirit that makes him
feel youthful, whatever be his age. Then he becomes as a little child,
eager to play, ready to laugh, happy among children; he shows in his
personality childlike traits, especially that look one sees in
children, where there is no worry, anxiety, or bitter feeling against
anyone, where there is a desire to be friendly with all, where there
is no pride or conceit, but readiness to associate with anybody,
whatever be his class or caste, nation or race. So the spiritual
person becomes like a child. The tendency to tears, the readiness for
laughter, all these are found in the spiritual person.

As the spiritual person
goes further he shows in his nature infancy. This can be perceived in
his innocence. His heart may be lighted with wisdom, yet he is
innocent; he is easily deceived, even knowingly, besides being happy
under all conditions, like an infant. As the infant has no regard for
honor or for insult, neither has the spiritual person. When he arrives
at this stage, he answers insult with a smile. Honors given to him are
like honors given to a little baby, who does not know to whom they are
offered. Only the person who has given the honors knows that they have
been given to somebody. The spiritual one is not conscious of it, nor
happy in it, nor proud of it. It is nothing to him. The one who has
honored him has honored himself, since to the baby it is nothing if
somebody should speak in favor of him or against him; the baby does
not mind, he is ready to smile at both; so is the spiritual soul.

As the spiritual soul
proceeds further he begins to show the real traits of humanity, for
here humanity really begins. One can see in such a soul the signs
which are the pure characteristics of the human being, devoid of the
animal traits. For instance, there is a tendency in him to appreciate
every little good deed done by anyone, to admire good wherever he sees
it in any person; a tendency to sympathize, whatever be the condition
of the person, saint or sinner; a tendency to take interest in the
affairs of his friends when called upon to do so; a tendency to
sacrifice, not considering what he sacrifices, as long as he is moved
to do that action. Respect, gratitude, sincerity,
faithfulness, patience, endurance, all these qualities begin to
show in the character of that man. It is in this stage that truly he
can judge, for at this stage the sense of justice awakens.

But as he grows he
continues also to grow backward. He now shows the signs of the animal
kingdom; for instance, such a quality as that of the elephant, which,
with all its strength and power of giant bulk, is ready to take the
load put upon it; the horse, which is ready to serve the rider; and
the cow, which lives in the world harmoniously, comes home without
being driven, gives milk which is the right of her calf. These
qualities come to the spiritual person. The same thing is taught by
Christ.

When he goes on further
still there develops in him the quality of the vegetable kingdom, of
the plants which bring forth fruit and flowers; patiently waiting for
the rain from above; never asking any return from those who come to
gather flowers and fruit, giving and never expecting a return,
desiring only to bring forth beauty according to the capability which
is hidden in them, and letting it be taken by the worthy or unworthy,
whoever it be, without any expectation of appreciation or thanks.

And when the spiritual
person advances still further he arrives at the stage of the mineral
kingdom. He becomes as a rock; a rock for others to lean on, to depend
upon; a rock that stands unmoved amidst the constantly moving waves of
the sea of life; a rock to endure all things of this world whose
influence has a jarring effect upon sensitive human beings; a rock of
constancy in friendship, of steadfastness in love, of loyalty to every
ideal for which he has taken his stand. One can depend upon him
through life and death, here and hereafter. In this world where
nothing is dependable, which is full of changes every moment, such a
soul has arrived at the stage where he shows through all these changes
that rock-like quality, proving thereby his advancement to the mineral
kingdom.

His further advancement
is into the jinn quality, which represents the all-knowing,
all-understanding. There is nothing he cannot understand; however
difficult the situation, however subtle the problem, whatever be the
condition of those around him, he understands it all. A person may
come to him hardened with faults that he has committed all his life;
before this understanding he melts, for whether it be a friend or an
enemy, he understands both. Not only has he the knowledge of human
nature, but of objects as well, of conditions of life in general in
all its aspects.

And when he advances
still further his nature develops into that of an angel. The nature of
the angel is to be worshipful. He therefore worships God in all
creatures;he does not feel to be any greater or better or any more
spiritual himself than anybody else. In this realization he is the
worshiper of all the names and forms there are, for he considers them
all the names and forms of God. There is no one, however degenerate or
looked down upon by the world, who is any less in his eyes. In his
eyes there is no one but the divine Being; and in this way every
moment of his life is devoted to worship. For him it is no longer
necessary that he must worship God at a certain time, or in a certain
house, or in a certain manner. There is not one moment that he is not
in worship. Every moment of his life he is in worship, he is before
God; and being before God at every moment of his life he becomes so
purified that his heart becomes a crystal where everything is clear.
Everything is reflected there, no one can hide his thoughts from him,
nothing is hidden from him; all is known as clearly as it is known to
the other person, and more so. For every person knows his own
condition and yet not the reason, but the spiritual being at this
stage knows the condition of the person and the reason behind it.
Therefore he knows more about every person than that person knows
himself.

It is in this stage that
his progress culminates and comes to its fullness; and Christ has
spoken concerning this in the words: 'Be ye perfect, as your Father in
heaven is perfect.' When that stage arrives, it is beyond all
expression. It is a sense, it is a realization, it is a feeling, which
words can never explain. There is only one thing that can be said,
that when a person has touched that stage which is called perfection,
his thought, speech, action, his atmosphere, everything becomes
productive of God; he spreads God everywhere. Even if he did not
speak, still he would spread God; if he did not do anything, still he
would bring God. And thus God-realized ones bring to the world the
living God. At present there exists in the world only a belief in God;
God exists in imagination, in the ideal. It is such a soul which has
touched divine Perfection that brings to the earth a living God, who
without him would remain only in the heavens.